<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16735" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV class=headline><STRONG><FONT size=6>Pullman: A culture of
violence</FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=nut_graph>Violently targeting others because of differences is
terrorism</DIV>
<P class=byline_name><A
href="http://www.dailyevergreen.com/writer/9082">Nickolas Conrad</A></P>
<P class=byline_pub>The Daily Evergreen</P>
<HR>
<DIV class=body_copy>
<P>Violence is the basest, crudest, most primal and animalistic of acts.
Collectively, there is a consensus that violence is criminal. Thus, when I hear
about violent hate crimes committed against a targeted group in Pullman, I can
only feel the perpetrators have debased our humanity. They have degraded our
university and violated its values of diversity and tolerance. </P>
<P>The Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center is
committed to gender equality at WSU. Heidi Stanton, interim assistant dean of
students and director of GIESORC, said there have been five documented cases of
hate crimes in Moscow and Pullman in the past month against the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and allied community. The vilest act in my mind was when a
student was physically assaulted by three men wearing masks. This crime in
particular was a premeditated act of domestic terrorism. It is a rearguard and
reactionary act made to preserve an oppressive culture of heteronormativity �
the marginalization and oppression of non-heterosexuals. The perpetrators show
they will use any means necessary to maintain a brutish and simplified
understanding of the world. </P>
<P>Some of these crimes were committed by men, which leads me to conclude that
repressed homophobes are afraid the tyranny of masculinity is crumbling. The
good ol� boys club that has dominated and oppressed the world is coming undone.
To come to terms with their insecure identities, the perpetrators have reverted
to the lowest form of human persuasion � physical violence. In a university that
teaches us to use reason and rational debate, this brutality is despicable and
the lowest, most visceral element of our brains � something even lizards
possess. </P>
<P>But this is not the whole story. </P>
<P>The truth is, Pullman is creating a culture of violence. The Pullman City
Council had to issue a special ordinance in April to deal with the increasing
level of violence over the last four years. We are not improving, we are
degenerating. Violence is becoming normalized, almost as a way to socialize in
the city of Pullman. </P>
<P>Again, most of the fights I have heard about in Pullman involve men. To watch
one muscle-bound male attempt to assert his dominance among other muscle-bound
males is to watch one hairy ape challenge another ape for the alpha male
position. Because they lack self-esteem and confidence in their own personality,
they lash out to hide their insecurities. If they cannot socialize by wit, they
will socialize by brute force. Uncomfortable with themselves, they have to hurt
others to feel good. </P>
<P>I call it the caveman complex. It is a barbaric way to fit in with other
barbaric males. To use violence against another because of intolerance is
primitive and ignorant. The perpetrators are cavemen walking among the
civilized. Dominating others with fear and intimidation is something fascists
and totalitarians do � it is quite simply, terrorism. Violent hate acts are the
utter depravity of all that is rational and humane. </P>
<P>Pullman, we need to ask ourselves what kind of people we want to be and how
we want to represent our university. Right now we are an embarrassment. It is up
to us to make our university a place that tolerates, welcomes and embraces
diversity. We have to be the change. We have to confront our friends when they
act violently or preach intolerance. We have to let them know it is not
acceptable. Violence and intolerance do not belong
here.</P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>